State Funeral and Burial conducted for W. Equatoria Governor

February 16, 2008 (YAMBIO) — The governor of Western Equatoria State, late Samuel Abujohn Kabashi, was laid to rest in Yambio today. He was buried at around 5:30 pm local time at the premises of the Yambio State House, the seat of WES government in Yambio.

Governor Abujohn died on Thursday 14th February 2008 at 8:15 pm local time at his home in Yambio after battling with stomach cancer over the past year.

A full state funeral was conducted before the burial and the state funeral was attended by many GoSS senior dignitaries, WES state officials and NGOs representatives.

The President of Government of Southern Sudan, Salva Kiir Mayardit, attended the ceremony to pay his last respects to the fallen hero. The Sudan’s First Vice President was accompanied to attend the state funeral for late Governor Abujohn by some GoSS ministers among them Luka Biong, Festo Kumba and Daniel Awet.

Salva Kiir Mayardit left to return to Juba soon afterwards. Other honourable member of the Southern Sudan Legislature and Sudan Unity Parliament from Khartoum also attended. Conspicuous from Khartoum Unity Government was the minister of Labour and Administrative Reform, Alison Monani Magaya.

Lt General Abujohn Kabashi, who was from the Azande, was known as the first Southerner to graduate from Sudanese Military College in 1954.

(ST)